July 20, 2008
Genesis 26:34 – 28:9
Last Sunday as we began the Esau/Jacob story cycle in Genesis, I left you with the question, “Can Christ love what God hates.” Now that may seem like a strange question to ask, but how we approach that question effects how we live out our own faith… our answer to the question, “Can Christ love what God hates” effects the theology of our hearts and our imaginations… it defines for us the character of God and as people of faith that character reflects back on us… we who were made in the image of God. In the Psalm this morning, there was no hesitation from our Psalmist in his desire that God would kill the wicked. There is no prayer here for enemies to redeemed. The Psalmist boasted of his hate for those who hate God… and who in turn he assumes that God hates. But… with the cross is that understanding no longer an option for us who were called in Christ? Can we hate those who hate God… can we even speak of those whom God hates in the light of Christ’s reconciling sacrifice made in love? Does the cross of Christ cover the sin of some, but not others… those whom God hates? It’s a tough question because we all know that we will all stand before God and be held accountable. To use the words of Paul… “Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”
However, last week we saw how in scripture, both the prophet Malachi and Paul state that God loved Jacob, but hated Esau. It’s there in black and white… twice. And it was not because of what Esau did… God’s hatred for Esau did not develop over the passage of time in Esau’s life as the stench of his sin rose toward God. In his letter to the Romans, Paul makes a point that God’s choice of Jacob over Esau happened while the two were still in the womb. Esau was born under the shadow of God’s rejection. Take a minute and use your imagination… and put yourself in Esau’s shoes… how does it feel to be born under the shadow of God’s rejection? Can you even imagine such a thing?
I look at this family in Genesis and I think that Isaac’s love for his son must have been Esau’s only relief. God hates Esau, but his father loves him all the same. Still it’s not enough to protect him is it? Jacob, God’s chosen… the one whom God loved… swindles Esau’s birthright from him over a bowl of soup… taking from Esau his guarantee for his social position in life… his inheritance. In our reading this morning, the bitterness of Esau’s life cannot be contained as once again he is cheated out of what is rightfully his. Listen for the Word of God as it speaks to you this morning from the book of Genesis.
READ Genesis 26:34 – 28:9 (more…)